US2249318A - Fluorescent lamp fixture - Google Patents

Description

July l5, 1941. A '0- LOCKE 2,249,318

FLUORESCENT LAMP FIXTURE Filed Feb. l0, 1941 IVENTOR. A/ymfw d 0c/f5..

WW l' Patented lJuly 1'5, 1941 FLUonEsoEN'r LAMP Fix'runn Andrew 0. Locke, Denver, Colo., assignor to The Electron Corp., Denver, Colo., a corporation of f Colorado Application February 1o, 1941, serial No. 378,239

(ci. 24o-vs) comms.

This invention relates to a uorescent light fixture. Such fixtures aredesigned to 4support one or more elongated fluorescent lamp tubesO and, heretofore, each iixture has been designed to support a given number of tubes.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple fixture which will be adaptable to support any desired number of tubes and yet which will have the appearance of having been designed for that particular number of tubes.

Such a construction greatly reduces the cost of manufacture since the same component parts can be used in all fixtures regardless of the num- -ber of uorescent tubes to be placed therein.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention referenceis had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like rality of screw holes I I are formed in the arch plates I2 adjacent the slot I'I for the reception of attachment screws I5 for attaching the receptacle brackets I3 in place. The receptacle brackets are standard equipment for fluorescent tube fixtures. They are provided with'enlarged basesy I8 which prevent them from passing entirely through the slot I1 and are held in place therein by means of' the screws I5.

' There are thirteen of the' screw holzs I4 uniformly spacedzin each arch plate of t e fixture i illustrated. Thus, by employing every other hole tubes from one to seven may be used in the same As illustrated, four ofy the uorescentnumerals refer to like parts in all views of the I drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a face view of the complete improved iixlture arranged to support four fluorescent tu es;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the end caps, tube and reflector removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectio through one extremity of the improved fixture,

taken on-the line 3-3, Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section, taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 1; in this view the fluorescent seven brackets may be placed in each slot I1 as indicated in broken line in Fig. 4. By omitting the alternate brackets, four can be uniformly spaced as indicated in solid line in Fig. 4. By starting with second-hole at each side and by using the intermediate holes not used in Fig. 4, six brackets can be uniformly spaced about the arch plates. Thus any number of fluorescent fixture. .tubes 2l are used.

Adaptable spacing-plates I8 are provided with` each fixture. The plates are formed with a plurality ot spaced,l knock-out notches along one of' their edges, as indicated in broken line `in Fig. 5. vThese knock-out" notches are weakened portions which can be easily ybroken from the plate to vprovide receptacle bracket receiving notches I9 1n its edges. For a seven tube xture. the seven notches would be knocked out and for the four tube xture, illustrated, four of the tubes have been removed for convenience of illustration; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the spacing employed in the invention.

The` improved fluorescent light fixture is vmounted on a back `plate III, which is preferably channel-shaped in cross section so that when in place only -its edges contact `the supporting surface. At each extremity of the back plate, a

semi-circular end plate I I. is permanently welded or otherwise secured. An arch plate I2 isalso permanently secured at its extremities to the back plate I0 in spaced relation to each of the end Plates I I to outline a receptacle slot I1. Thus the back plate I0, the end plates II and the,

arch plates I2 form a single unitary member.

The width of thereceptacle slot I1 between the arch plates I2 and the end plates .I I is just suiilcient for the passage of the arm of a typical fluorescent tubereceptacle bracket I3. A pluplate notches would be opened as illustrated. The

plate I 8 slips inside of the arch plate I2 to close the slot I1 between the receptacle brackets and is fixedly secured in place therein by means of the same screws I5 which hold the receptacle brackets I3 in place. Each spacing plate is pro- -vided with a screw hole 20 for each of its knockout notches;

It can be .readily seen that with the above equipment a fixture can be quickly assembled to A hold any desired number of tubes in an artistic,

balanced arrangement.

After the socket members and the spacing plates are in place. a convex reflector plate 2| is secured over the entire assembly to conceal the screws II and the holes I4. The reflector plate is secured along the flanged edges of the base member by means of suitable attachmentscrews 22. After the tubes are in place over the reflector, suitable flanged end caps 23, having a.

semi-circular outline, are secured to each of the end plates I I by means of clamp nuts 24 threaded on studs 25 projecting from the end plates. 'I'he completed fixture will then present the appearance of Fig. 1.

Each end plate is preferablyprovlded with three openings 26 for receiving the standard starters for the tubes 21. The arch plates l2 are also provided with openings 28 for receiving startersi- Thus; openings are provided for any number of starter-scorrespondlng to the number of tubes to be used. These openings and thestarters therein will be completely concealed ployed, this may be quickly and easily doneby changing the position of the receptacle brackets while the fixture is in place.

Another advantage is that all fixtures in a given establishment will be uniform in appearance, even though they may vary in'the number of fluorescent tubes employed.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired .to be understood lthat the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is each spacing plate being provided with notches in its edge for'the reception of said receptacle brackets; and a curved reiiector plate'extending from side to side of the back plate and concealing the arch plates.

4. A lighting iixture for fluorescent tubes comprising: a back plate; an end plate secured to the back plate at each extremity thereof; an arch plate secured to the back plate immediately inside of each of the end plates, there being a receptacle@ slot between each end plate and its arch plate; a plurality of fluorescent tube receptacle brackets projecting outwardly through said slot; means for securing said receptacle brackets to the arch plates at any desired spacing; 'a curved spacingplate fitted inside of each arch plate, each spacing platev being provided with notches in its edge for the reception of said receptacle brackets; a curved reector plate extending from side to side of the back plate and concealing the arch plates; and semi-circular,

j inwardly-flanged, cap members secured to each end plate.' the flange thereof concealing vsaid receptacle brackets.

5. A lighting fixture forfluorescent tubes ccmprising: a back plate; semi-circular end plates claimed and desired secured by letters Patent is:

1. A lighting fixture for fluorescent tubes comprising: a back plate; an end plate secured to the back plate at each extremity thereof; an arch plate secured to the back plate immediately inside of each of the end plates, there being a receptacle slot between each end plate and its arch plate; means for securing fluorescent tube receptacle brackets in each of said slots; and a reflector plate `extending between the opposite sides of the back plate and concealing the arch plates.

2. A lighting fixture for fluorescent tubes comprising: a back plate; an end plate secured to the back4V plate at each extremity thereof an arch plate secured to the back plate immediately inside of each of the end plates, there being a receptacle slot between each end -plate and its arch plate; a plurality of fluorescent tube receptacle brackets projecting outwardly through said slot; means for securing said receptacle brackets to the arch plates at any desired spacing; and a curved reflector plate' extending from side to side of the back plate and concealing the arch plates.

3. A lighting fixture for nuorescent tubes comprising: a back plate; an end plate secured to the back plate at each extremity thereof; an arch plate secured to the back plate: immediately insecured on each extremity of said back plate; a relatively flat, arcuately-arched member extend ing from side to side of the back plate in spaced relation to each end plate so as to leave a uniform slot between the two, said arched member being provided with a plurality of spaced bolt holes along said slot; a plurality of tube receptacles extending outwardly through said slot; and bolts extending through said holes holding said receptacles in place.

6. A lightingxture for uorescent tubes comprising: a back plate; semi-circular end platesl secured on each extremity of said back. plate; a

relatively flat, arcuatelyarched member extending from side to side of the back plate in spaced relation toeach end plate so as to leave a uniform slot between the two, said arched member relatively flat, arcuately-arched member extend` ing from side to side ofthe back plate in spaced relation to each end plate so as to leave a uniform `slot between the two, said arched member being provided with a plurality of spaced bolt holes along said slot; a plurality of tube receptacles extending outwardly through, said slot;y bolts extending through said holes holding said receptacles in place; a curved spacing plate within each of said arch plates; and removable portions in one edge of said spacing plate which when re- .moved provide notches for the reception of the receptacle brackets.

ANDREW o.

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